Somali National Army’s 14th Brigade, based in the Lower Shabelle region, has recaptured several villages from al Shabab in the same region in the past few hours.
The villages that the government forces captured include Jowhar Awdhegle, Ay-Butey, Gumeysidid, Kali Cafimad, and Buulo-Nagey, under the districts of Awdheegle, Janalle and Number 50.
According to the officers leading the operation, the army destroyed checkpoints and fake courts where the group was extorting money from people and public vehicles.
With the support of local people, the government forces have taken control of major towns and villages from al-Shabab in the Hiiraan, Galgadud, and Lower Shabelle regions since the last Augusto.
President Hassan Sheikh has officially announced the beginning of the second phase of operations in the country to eliminate the group.
